I absolutely love to travel, meeting people of different nationalities and backgrounds, seeing some of the World’s wonders and experiencing different ways of life. However, gone are my days of spending nights in 12-bed rooms in a hostel or hitching a ride in a truck with a stranger, these days I like to fall into the ‘flash packing’ mode of travelling, and I absolutely love it, I recently toured Europe and here is my quick guide to getting the most out of this wonderful continent, in style.

The Best Way to Travel is by Train

Of course, flying between destinations is quicker and a little ‘sexier’ but train travel around Europe is an absolute dream. If you spend a little extra you can get some real comfort on the trains including overnight trains. The services in Europe are really far reaching and you can hit all of the big cities via train. I recommend taking the train from Geneva to Milan, it goes right through the Alps and the views are stunning, even better with a glass of bubbly!

Boutique is the Future

As much as I enjoy staying in a grand hotel that caters for my every need, I have, in recent years completely fell in love with boutique hotels. Europe has hundreds of these little gems, usually independently owned and always quirky. The idea behind these hotels in all out style and luxury, many of the ones that I have stayed in have a certain theme to them and are always designed in a way that you just don’t get at the big chain hotels. There are a lot of boutique hostels starting to pop up at the moment but for me, despite the design, it is still a hostel, I prefer the hotels and I don’t mind paying a little extra for some good old fashioned luxury.

Travel Privately

I don’t do this too often, but now and again I love to hire my own car and driver, whether it is for an airport transfer, a city tour or getting to my hotel from the station. Privately hiring a car is a great alternative to taxi travel, especially for us girls, I always feel far safer in a private car than a cab caught on the street. As well as the added security, there is always better organisation and time keeping from private cars and generally speaking the drivers are always nice as they are representing a company, I feel like they take that little bit more pride in their job.

I love Europe so much, there is a lot on offer for backpackers and flash packers alike and there are so many beautiful cities in such close proximity that you’ll be country hopping before you know it. My favourite cities were Milan, Geneva and Budapest, all of them are so chic, all reachable by train and all of them offered a flash packer like me, the perfect chance to travel in style.

When you might only have the time or budget for a short break, it’s important to make sure your vacation is as flawless as possible. This simple list of money-saving tips will help you get the best value out of a short vacation.

Plan meticulously

If you don’t have a lot of time, the worst thing you can do is just show up in a foreign city with no idea of where you are going to go or what you are going to do. What tends to happen in that situation is that you waste a lot of time trying to figure out what to do, and then before you know it, it is time to head home. Proper planning will also help you to budget appropriately for the trip, so you don’t end up with unpleasant surprises and regrets.

Pre-pay your indulgences

When splashing out for luxury items like Vienna Opera tickets, you can usually save a lot of money if you buy them before you leave home. There are two reasons for this. The first is that some service providers give special prices for international tourists and these discounts may only be available when purchased from outside of the country. The second reason is that prices for some things may tend to increase as special events become closer. You’ll also avoid missed opportunities due to sell-outs.

When paying by credit card, try to pay in your home currency

It’s not always an option, but when purchasing online (and, sometimes, even offline) you can potentially save a lot by paying in your home currency. This is because most credit cards charge high fees for currency conversion, and even though they are international and shouldn’t do it; they always convert between your home currency and the transaction currency. When you do have to pay in a foreign currency, try to anticipate currency market trends and you could save a few dollars by waiting a day or two before committing to the purchase.

Consider all-inclusive packages

While they’re often not the best value, all-inclusive vacation packages can take some of the stress and hassle out of vacation planning, and your overall spending will tend to be less. However, do try to align your choices with places and activities that interest you.

Never pay for restaurant meals with a credit card

Sure, it makes you look like a big shot, but it’s way too easy to get scammed if you let a waiter carry your credit card away from the table. Besides that, many restaurants add a hefty extra percentage when you pay by credit card, and that is just dead money.

It’s just a short break, so take cash

Carrying large sums of cash around is not usually recommended, but if you’re just taking a short vacation then it’s a waste of money to pay the fees charged by financial institutions for withdrawing cash from foreign ATMs. As long as you carry less than the currency declaration limit, you should be fine (the exception is the UK, where they demand evidence that whatever money you are carrying actually belongs to you, regardless of whether it is below the limit).

The above list is by no means comprehensive, but it’s vital to take the tips that are mentioned here on board if you want to save money when taking your next short vacation.

Although Greece remains a popular tourist destination, this has not kept the Mediterranean nation from experiencing a severe economic crisis. As a result, travelers need to adjust their plans accordingly, as Greece’s of economic issues provide an additional hurdle for prospective travelers to clear.

However, these problems do not have to put a damper on your trip to Greece! In addition to saving money on airfare and accommodations with the use of coupons for Hotwire you can find on Discountrue.com, a traveler can follow these simple tips for traveling to Greece and getting the most of their journey!

Planning Ahead

Those who have a longer window to plan their trip to Greece are able to maximize their savings. Greece’s current economic situation is of great benefit to American travelers, since the dollar has become much more valuable. As a result, more and more Americans are making their way to the Mediterranean, as well as Europe, each year.

By waiting and planning ahead, your trip to Greece could become even less expensive than you had imagined. Greece is in the process of deciding whether or not to switch from the euro back to the drachma. Should they decide to make the transition, the American dollar would hold even greater value, letting you get even more bang for your buck.

Purchase Insurance

Traveler’s insurance is a great way to ensure that you are covered in case of any incidents that should take place. It is important to remember that traveler’s insurance is not going to cover you for any economic woes that Greece is experiencing, regardless of whether or not they affect your trip.

Insurance can be used to cover common snafus, such as lost luggage. But if you are looking for something a little bit more extensive, the “cancel for any reason” option is available to you. A policy of this nature typically costs $500 and allows a traveler to recoup 50 percent of their nonrefundable expenses, should an unforeseen problem arise.

Manage Your Money Wisely

Greek banks are now under new rules and regulations. They ration their money and are only during certain of the hours. As a result, travelers need to consider these realities when making their way through the country. Always make sure that you have enough cash for the situations that require paper money and rely on credit cards as much as possible.

Plan as if you will not be able to use your ATM card while you are in Greece. Many places do not accept American Express cards as a form of payment, so be sure to have MasterCard or Visa on hand. Don’t carry too much cash or too many valuables. Hotel safes and safety deposit boxes provide you with useful locations to store your most prized possessions.

If you are looking for a relaxing weekend away in one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in the world, look no further than Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile, named thus, since the 16th-century is a long stretch of streets which form the main strip of the Old Town of Edinburgh. A stunning walk, this row leads from Edinburgh Castle right down to the Palace of Hollyrood House, the residence of The Queen when she is in town. There are many shops to indulge any shoppers tastes and a variety of cafes and restaurants to stop for lunch. There is no need to mention the pubs, Scotland is famous for them and Edinburgh is full of them.

Night Tours

An interesting way to see the Old Town is by night. An experienced guide will lead you through the old cobbled streets of the city sharing the many stories, both true and legend, of the famously haunted region. Ghost tours will take you to the Calton Cemetary and Calton Hill where you will be able to see Edinburgh’s own take on the Parthenon and enjoy an aerial view of the old and new areas of the city. Jacob’s Seat looms in the distance.

Day Trips

Edinburgh is centrally located and one of the easiest places to jump off from on a Scottish Highland day tour. Wind your way through the Old Town out to the Highlands. Take a boat ride on Loch Ness and hunt for the infamous monster. Learn the tales of the Campbell clan and follow the steps of William Wallace and the battle of Glen Coe.

Stirling Castle is only an hour from Edinburgh and is well worth the trip.

Edinburgh Festival

Every August, the streets of Edinburgh are flooded with Fringe visitors. Having visited the Fringe Festival, I would highly recommend visiting during this time. The old stone streets are filled with colour and there are so many acts to choose from, it is easy to fill every night of your stay with entertainment.

If a relaxing pace is more your speed, avoid this season. Usually running from around the 2nd-22nd, Edinburgh is packed solid. The weather is best at this time, and as it rains for most of the rest of the year, people usually take advantage of the summer months. This includes proprietors, hiking up accommodation prices for the eager tourists. Aim for Spring if possible as the weather is still mild-ish, and the prices are far more reasonable.

Check websites like lastminute.com for cheap rates and make the most of any mid-week deals if possible. Edinburgh is an easy weekend destination for local Brits, so aim for Tuesday to Friday.

Prepare for rain, all year round. Keep a light rain sheath in your packpack to avoid getting caught out and a jumper nearby in case the temperature drops. Even in the cold, this city is a stunning way to spend a couple of days away. For more information see visitscotland.com.

Family holidays in France combine culture and adventure in a unique way. Let your kids experience a different culture altogether while giving them room to enjoy activities such as skiing, caving, canoeing and many more.

On the top of the list of family activities that can be enjoyed in France is Canoeing. A cruise on the Dordogne River takes you through the beautiful river allow you to pass many of the favourite sites like La Rogue, Gagaec and Castlenaud. Another benefit especially with the kids is that packages usually have a stopover at one of the towns where you can enjoy the local ambiance and friendly locals. Another river to canoe on is the Vézère, though this is considered a more stressful option.

Canoeing on the Dordogne River (creative commons)

The Haribo Museum was especially designed for your kids. The museum is located between Uzès and the Pont du Gard, the museum shows the fun history of confectionary, it is a delight for both kids and grownups. This is a great alternative when the weather is rainy and you need some fun indoors. Built on a water mill, this museum really is all about sweets. Bags of sweets are handed out in exchange for your entrance fee-now how cool is that? Both interactive and passive displays surround the museum making it a fun and unique destination.

Kids love trains-that’s a fact. A trip to the Le Train à Vapeur des Cévennes will enchant kids of all ages. The trip takes you along the lovely Gardons Valley to St Jean-du-Gard. Along the way are great places to stop and have a picnic like La Bambouseraie de Prafrance which is an amazing bamboo forest. The train also has carriages that are half open and have the wind blow through your hair as you submerge yourself in the scenery.

Le Train à Vapeur des Cévennes (creative commons)

Take your kids to a more historic site and visit La Pont du Gard. Originally built by the Romans, this is one of the most popular attractions in France receiving up to one million visitors a year. There is no entrance fee and you can take your kids on leisurely walks along the banks or slopes which have magnificent views of the bridge and Gardon Valley. Both banks are complete with shops, restaurants, and children centres making it ideal for family adventures.

Other destinations for family holidays in France include the Le Bournat Open Air Museum, The Aquarium at La Rochelle and the Le Musée des Blindes (tank museum).